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Three Stars of the Week: Dec. 29 - Jan. 4
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Rick Nash
Team: Blue Jackets
Pos.: LW
Stats: 2 G, 7 A
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Brian Rafalski
Team: Red Wings
Pos.: D
Stats: G, 5 A
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Cam Ward
Team: Hurricanes
Pos.: G
Stats: 3 W, 1.33 GAA, .944 SV%
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Alphabetical Listing
Position Listing
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Fantasy Updates
 'Good chance' Sundin to debut Wed.
Mats Sundin, C VAN
News: Mats Sundin believes there's a "good chance" he'll debut for the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night in Edmonton. The 37-year-old center is nine months removed from his last game in a 17-season NHL career. He signed as a free agent Dec. 18 and joined his new team in Vancouver on Dec. 30. Sundin didn't have his first full practice with the Canucks until Monday. "If nothing changes until (Wednesday) morning I think it should be a good chance I'll play (Wednesday)," Sundin said after a second practice Tuesday. "If not, then obviously Friday at home against St. Louis." The long-time Toronto captain has been reunited in practice with Kyle Wellwood, a former linemate with the Maple Leafs, and young speedster Mason Raymond. He's also been working on the second power play unit. "Of course, you're looking forward to get back playing the game," Sundin said. "But at the same time I want to make sure I'm ready physically so I can stay in the lineup and not come back too quick and get hurt."
Analysis: The 6-foot-5 Swede has 555 goals and 766 assists in 1,305 career games. "(Wednesday) hopefully will be his first game of what we are all hoping is going to be a successful run here," coach Alain Vigneault said. "The only way to get him to the pace the NHL is at right now is to put him in and put him in gradually and let him work through the little inactivity." Sundin has the potential to be a point-per-game player with the Canucks and Vancouver didn't sign him to just act as a wallflower. He will get his scoring chances and hopefully he will make an impact right away. Sundin will debut during Fantasy Week 14 (Jan. 5-11) and Fantasy owners might want to rev up to insert him into lineups for Week 15 (Jan. 12-18).
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  Hemsky still out a while
Ales Hemsky, RW EDM
News: The Sports Xchange reports that Oilers RW Ales Hemsky remains sidelined with a concussion. It was originally believed that Hemsky would only miss a couple of games, but now it's more likely that he'll be out a couple of weeks. He was injured Dec. 28 and hasn't even been on an exercise bike since. "I don't really want to go down the path of what his progress is, but he's still unlikely for a while," coach Craig MacTavish said. "All cases are different. He'll have to listen to his body. We're going to be very patient to ensure that when he gets back he's completely ready."
Analysis: Hemsky is a must-start Fantasy forward when healthy, but this injury looks like it might linger for a while. Bench him in all formats until he's back healthy again.
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 Koivu could return Saturday
Saku Koivu, C MON
News: The Montreal Gazette reports that Canadiens C Saku Koivu (foot/ankle) skated Tuesday and could return to action as soon as Saturday.
Analysis: Koivu is one of the Canadiens' top centers when healthy and usually a decent No. 3 Fantasy forward. Expect to get him back in your lineup for Fantasy Week 15 (Jan. 12-18).
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Sullivan aiming for Sat. return
Steve Sullivan, RW NSH
News: The Tennessean reports that Predators RW Steve Sullivan, who last played an NHL game on Jan. 22, 2007, could return to action on Saturday vs. the Blackhawks. "If everything goes really well ... I am not going to rule out Saturday," Sullivan said Monday.
Analysis: Sullivan hasn't played since the 2006-07 season, but did average 67.3 points over his previous three seasons and could be a productive Fantasy option once he returns to the ice. If you have a vacant spot in deeper leagues, you could pick Sullivan up just in case he does return to prominence.
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Sturm to undergo surgery
Marco Sturm, LW BOS
News: The Boston Herald reports that Bruins LW Marco Sturm will undergo left knee surgery soon and will be out indefinitely.
Analysis: Until this season, Sturm was a pretty durable player, so it looks like this year has just been one of those unfortunate things. He's worth holding on to in deeper leagues, but don't waste a spot on him in 10-team formats.
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Gaborik has successful surgery
Marian Gaborik, RW MIN
News: Wild RW Marian Gaborik has begun rehabilitation from surgery on his left hip. The Minnesota Wild reported late Monday the operation to repair a torn labrum and damaged cartilage went "as expected." Gaborik started rehab immediately after the procedure in Colorado, done by the same specialist who performed a similar operation on his right hip last summer. Groin pain persisted for Gaborik this season, and he played in only six games before being diagnosed with a deficiency in his hip.
Analysis: The Wild wanted Gaborik to try to play through the pain this season, but he elected surgery instead, further incensing an organization that isn't a big fan of his. Gaborik is estimated to need 10 to 14 weeks to return. He can begin skating in six weeks, near his 27th birthday. He is in the final year of his contract. He is only worth holding on to in keeper and deeper seasonal leagues.
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Forsberg skating with old team
Peter Forsberg, C COL
News: The Denver Post reports that free agent C Peter Forsberg has been skating in Sweden with his old team, Modo.
Analysis: Forsberg is clearly going to try and give an NHL return one more shot, but there is no concrete timetable yet. Continue to hold on to him in deeper leagues if you can afford to waste a roster spot on him, as he could be very valuable if he does return this season. There are no guarantees, though.
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Blues not going to rush Kariya
Paul Kariya, LW STL
News: Blues left wing Paul Kariya had left hip surgery on Monday and could miss the rest of the regular season. "We haven't ruled him out, but what's the sense of rushing something as serious as this?" team president John Davidson said Tuesday. "I think he'll be back to 110 percent, whether it's late this season or next season. Probably next season." The surgery was performed in Vail, Colo., and Kariya will stay in Colorado to begin rehab.
Analysis: Kariya had two goals and 13 points in the Blues' first 11 games before injuring the hip Nov. 5 against Anaheim. An MRI had revealed injuries in two spots in the joint area of the left hip. Davidson said the surgery repaired a torn labrum inside the joint along with "some bone work." "He'll be 100 percent a long time before camp," Davidson said. "He'll be back to being Paul Kariya that should be better than he has been for years." The 34-year-old Kariya is in the second season of a three-year, $18 million contract. Kariya is only worth holding onto in long-term keeper leagues this at this time because it's unlikely he will play again this season.
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P. Dwyer sent back to AHL
Patrick Dwyer, RW CAR
News: The Hurricanes have sent RW Pat Dwyer down to the AHL.
Analysis: Dwyer has been up and down a couple of times this season. He is nothing more than organizational depth and can be ignored in Fantasy formats.
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Tollefsen comes off IR
Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, D CLB
News: The Blue Jackets activated D Ole-Kristian Tollefsen from IR on Tuesday. He had been there since knee surgery in mid-December.
Analysis: The 24-year-old Tollefsen, a native of Norway, has one assist and 31 penalty minutes in 12 games with the Blue Jackets this season. He has appeared in 138 career NHL games with the club, scoring four goals with six assists and 267 penalty minutes since the 2005-06 season. He has no Fantasy value when healthy.
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Novotny placed on injured reserve
Jiri Novotny, C CLB
News: The Blue Jackets have placed C Jiri Novotny on injured reserve.
Analysis: Novotny has been active for 26 games this season and has only four points to show for it. He has no Fantasy value at this time.
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J. Staal without a goal in nine
Jordan Staal, C PIT
News: The Sports Xchange reports that Penguins C Jordan Staal has gone nine games without a goal.
Analysis: Staal is having an OK year with his assist number already just six short of his career-high 16, but his rating of minus-5 and his zero short-handed points are dragging him down. He remains just a low-end option in the deepest of Fantasy leagues.
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Crosby struggling on power play
Sidney Crosby, C PIT
News: The Sports Xchange reports that Penguins C Sidney Crosby has scored only one power-play goal in his last 32 games.
Analysis: Look, no matter how much Crosby is struggling, you have to leave him in your Fantasy lineup, simple as that. You know the one week you bench him he'll have 10 points.
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Zigomanis placed on IR
Mike Zigomanis, C PIT
News: The Sports Xchange reports that Penguins C Mike Zigomanis (shoulder) has been placed on injured reserve. The news came Sunday, and it seemed like a relief to coach Michel Therrien, who had grown tired of answering questions about Zigomanis, who has not played since Dec. 3.
Analysis: Zigomanis is one of those players more important to his real team than Fantasy owners when healthy, so continue to ignore him.
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Weight day-to-day with leg injury
Doug Weight, C NYI
News: The Sports Xchange reports that Islanders C Doug Weight sat out Monday's game in Edmonton and is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury to his lower right leg.
Analysis: Weight has had a great season under first-year coach Scott Gordon and continues to show he still has gas left in the tank. While he is not an elite scorer, Weight has posted 25 assists and is worth looking at as a low-end Fantasy forward in deep formats when healthy. Monitor his progress during Fantasy Week 14 (Jan. 5-11).
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Prust's jaw still sensitive
Brandon Prust, RW CGY
News: The Calgary Herald reports that Flames C Brandon Prust's jaw is still sensitive to contact and he won't be back for a while yet.
Analysis: Prust primarily acts as an enforcer when healthy and is best used in Fantasy leagues that reward heavily for PIM.
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